Black knight leaps, white king flees: Inside India’s chess boom, where silent halls battle roaring screens

The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025 concluded in Mumbai, showcasing India's growing ambition in exporting sports formats. While online viewership booms, the live experiences of chess events remain contrasting, from the quiet intensity of the FIDE World Cup in Goa to the energetic spectacle of the GCL, highlighting the evolving nature of the sport.